Adding colour

 I adore these spring blooms, all silk and years old, I only keep these out for a couple of months sat on kitchen window sill. There is a cracking this jug, so it can't hold water, I do love it, came from hubby's grandparents house.

This spider plant is growing well here, Lilly has not attacked it, the amaryllis bulbs are a disappointment, the back bulb is from last year and only leaves, the front bulb is new this season, no bud at all.

This is the second book from this author for me, it's as good as the first one, a murder in a small village, local DCI is in charge, he returned home to the village from London after a divorce, BBC news is there, his ex is leading their coverage, everyone knows each other. More murders, a very clever plot, the perpetrator hiding in plain site, I could not put this book down. Book 19 read this year.

At B&Q I got some coloured stone for my sink, it stops the squirrels digging. I also got 2 half price packs of smaller daffodils, just £8, I love to get them at this time of year, so I can fill any gaps. I put 6 sections in the daisy bed, 4 in square bed and 2 in fruit bed, plus the containers are great for seedlings. There is a nice mixture here, I'm not bothered if they die back, they will return next year.

I'm feeling so much better, a couple days of sunshine has lifted me, all black moods have gone, I do ache, from jobs done outside, nothing big, just the start of the growing season stuff. I have done more knitting, I am enjoying the design, it looks complicated but is actually very simple.

I was so pleased when outside to see so much wildlife, bee's, butterflies and small birds, we feed the birds all though out the year, I try and have as many open flowers, avoiding double blooms, which are not so bee friendly. Sadly we have lost many of the pink buds from our Magnolia tree, either the squirrels or pigeons have had a feast on them, I have picked up loads of damaged ones from our lawn, it's never happened before.

Thursday morning we went to B&Q, hubby wanted some slate for his front garden, it's cheaper there, then on to our favourite garden centre, we had coffee and cake. I was looking for a couple potato growing bags, in both stores the bags are much smaller, so I will look elsewhere. I did not look at plants, at this point there is little I want, I have loads of my own in pots. The daffodils were a bargain, with 3 bulbs in each section, 36 bulbs for £8, I still need a couple small pots of tete-a-tetes. 

I spent the afternoon knitting, I have finished another row of colours, this time speckled ones, I now need to find 9 balls of plain colours.

Nothing planed for today, it's wet after heavy rain last night, there is more rain expected, later I'm at daughters house for a sleepover,  Will's birthday treat is paintball in the woods on Saturday, he is very excited, its an early start, I will stay home with George and Molly. 

Something new

 Another new author to me, it's a gentle book with a mother looking back on her teenage son's life, he died along with his dad, the son was troubled in the last few months of his life. She wakes up in hospital and has to piece everything together. Book 16 read this year. 

I have read this author before, I really did not enjoy this book, I kept reading it as it was an easy read whilst the children were sleeping over, I'm not keen on books where you can ascertain the outcome of every action in a positive way, and the woman gets her man at the end. Less said the better, Book 17 read this year. 

More fun with growing, I've tried a few times to grow peanuts (Monkey nuts here in UK), I was chatting online with a guy who has got them to shoot, and followed his advice. As you can see they mostly have shoots, eventually they will be put into a couple of bags, they are a member of the legume family (peas and beans), I have an intolerance to nuts, hubby loves them, these are on a sunny window sill with a radiator below. 

I have some spring blooms showing, hyacinths planted last year, there is a good mixture of colours already in the garden beds. Daffodils of all sizes have buds, sadly it's still rather windy, the taller ones are getting battered. My transplanted primroses are full of bloom, this bed is filling out.

The plant in the downstairs bathroom, is flowering again, it's just a very giving, with such stunning flowers.

Friday evening was good, both little ones were in bed early and fast asleep, Will choose another film to watch, I was in bed by 10pm. Saturday morning started with George at 8am, Molly was still asleep, they were both rested and happy. They came into the garden to help me lay cardboard in the new raised beds, and leaves on top, mummy needs some topsoil. We made cheese and bacon wraps for Will's lunch box this week. I was home early Saturday afternoon, daughter looked relaxed after a bit of pampering and a good night's sleep. Hubby at home had been baking, mince pies in February, using the last of the mincemeat. 

Sunday was home together, we sat for ages watching our outside space and the visiting wildlife, it did not stop raining again. We each have suggestions for outside, nothing big, just enjoying the view, again at the start of another gardening year we are happy with our layout, can't wait for warmer drier weather. Monday is another lazy day, fighting bugs, I will pop to our library, I have books to return. .

Hubby has a bad cold, which I passed to him, in a kind gesture he has passed it back to me, I feel rotten, chest hurts, stupid cough, I did a covid test because I felt so bad, it was negative.

Thank you for your comments regarding our lovely little family from my last post, living so close to them brings us so much joy, sadly school takes up so much of their time and we see less of them. Their lives have changed so much in the last 18 months, daughter is fierce protector of them, ensuring they live their best life.

Everything else

 My hyacinth blooms have gone over, so they are in the greenhouse until they die back, knowing I would have my hand painted pot empty, I got a new spider plant, Lilly shredded my other plant, it can stay here for now.

The first amaryllis bloom had died back, this second stem has one large opened bud and two smaller ones. The smaller of the pots is another new bulb this year, both bulbs were purchased from our garden centre neither cheap, this second bulb is not growing, the other pots is a bulb from last year, both bulbs only has leaves growing. 

I popped to our village library, I have not been for a while, I took my address book with all the book titles I have read, I stopped going as I found the choice of books I liked limiting, things have not changed, to order books in cost a £1 per title. The bottom book is an author I have read before, no a favourite, the top two are new authors to me, 

This book follows on with AI, this time in self drive cars, the government now wants everyone to drive level 5 cars, no brakes or controls, there are less accidents and congestion, our main lady hates these cars, refuses to use them after seeing a horrible accident which killed a mother, daughter and grand daughter. She is on service much like jury service, to discuss accidents and who was at fault, so far it's never the car, it's a farce until The Hacker takes over. Another tongue in cheek plot, again another good story, it's about the people not the cars. Book 13 read this year

Monday we walked to the village, Tuesday we met daughter in Whitley, we have not been there for a while, and popped to garden centre for the compost, I got a bag of shallots as well, I did not look at the plants. Molly was very happy with her badge now on the back of her swimming robe, it's too big for her and should last a few years, George also has swimming robe, but, as yet he has not reached his first badge. I did not keep the sewing machine out, I have a busy week.

Wednesday was a day at home, morning doing housework, the sun shone weakly for an hour, I have started my new knitted blanket, which I am enjoying. Thursday we went to the local huge Tesco superstore, its been months since we have been there, we have stocked up on bits we can't get at Lidl, including free from eggs for little ones Easter egg hunt. 

Today it's MOT for our car, we have everything crossed it does not cost too much, we are not aware of any issues, we will have a wonder around town whilst the car is in the garage, nothing planned for afterwards. I have my WI meeting tonight as well.

Last weekend in November

George had his 6th birthday on Saturday, he had a party a few weeks ago, we spent the day with them at their home, as did grandpa and grandma, he is not at all well, coughing, we had loads of cuddles, we stayed late enjoying a Chinese meal with them, both little ones ate well. He loved this remote controlled dog and played with it for ages, sharing with Molly as well.

These white blooms are a new plant this year, so far I have not lost any buds, I have another white one, it has less buds and is a couple of weeks behind. My plant in the bathroom is stunning, I would like it to be somewhere I can see it through the day, I won't move it as that could cause the flowers to drop.

My wicker basket is out, it's filled with all the early bits I need, cards ect, I'm much later than other years, it won't matter, we only have a few cards to send, just family, the cake bands are in here as well, daughter and brother gives them back each year. There are ribbons, string and tissue paper for wrapping gifts, it's a handy place to keep everything.

Saturday morning was hubby's petanque AGM, they had games before, hubby is a good player, he also coaches for the club, this year he won the shield for individual player, the cup was for their charity match, he won both of these last year. The smaller trophy which he keeps was for a monthly melee, he was runner up and the chocolates was his prize. 

The weekend brought less cold air and rain, both days were grey, Saturday we were out all day, George whilst being poorly is fighting the bugs better this year, we always worry as his weak chest can bring him down rapidly, this time he does look much stronger, daughter managed to get him an appointment at her doctors, they have given him anti biotics, he has not need them this time so they can stay in the fridge. Sunday was a stay at home day for me, hubby was out all of the morning, I got a few of my early Christmas task done, I filled our advent bags, just for the two of us, the unused chocolates will go in a dish for later in the month. 

I am still picking up leaves in the garden and I do need to sort my tulips, I am undecided should I pop them into the back of my huge grey pot, where we can see them from the house, or pot them up and place them on the same huge grey pot, it will be sorted the next dry day we have. 

Inside

I do love how this plant gives me flowers all through the year, I have recently moved it from the bathroom to the kitchen window sill, it's a compact plant and will sit better here, it is still on the same sunny wall.

Back in January Lilly had a go at this spider plant and bit off the babies, it was popped on the kitchen window sill where Lilly does not go, it's now looking good, I have moved it to a different spot in the bathroom, there is space here for any babies to hang, I can see two forming, and Lilly can't get to it. 

I found a plant for hubby's pot, it was in another pot in this spot, it works well and has plenty of root space. Shaun the sheep has lived on this shelf for years. 

The plant I moved from Betty's head is settling into it's new bigger pot, there is new growth, I have raised it so his hair can fall, it will look better once more has grown. I would like a nicer stand, if I can find one I like, I got this new plant when in Lidl's, hubby did not realise it was a house plant, hubby is not keen on too many plants around the house. I would love to pop him in our shower room upstairs, but I don't think I would get away with it, still I might try.

My 4 plants here are doing well and getting huge, I don't do much to these plants, I have only changed the soil once, I do feed a couple times a year, I have had most of these plants since 2021. The Haworthia Cooperi in the round metal pot is a baby from my original plant, the mother plant got huge so she lives in the greenhouse, this spring I have 2 lovely babies. My pregnant onion is in the greenhouse, it released loads of sap, making my desk top sticky, it seams happy in there. 

Betty is moved to the back wall of my office, I'm not happy with her fake hair, I struggle to grow hair her pot is not very big, for now she is where I can still see her. 

Another plant coming back to life is Albuca Spiralis Frizzle Sizzle, I popped both plants back into the greenhouse to rest for a while, I have two because a second bulb grew from the first, I have repotted them and watching closely for new growth and maybe flowers.

I am going to say it, it's just too hot to do much, we sit outside in the shade more, our seating is very comfortable and cool, Lilly is the same, she rest inside near our open patio door to catch any breeze, I am still saving water from the kitchen sink, Southern Water has stated we are on course for a hosepipe ban later in the summer.

Daughter took me out for lunch on Wednesday,  a very late Mothers day treat, we went to  courtyard bistro, only 15 minutes drive from us, it was lovely, great fresh food, I promised hubby we would go back next week, sadly it's just a bit too far to walk there in this heat.

Thursday we enjoyed the lovely weather in the garden, Friday hubby spent the day DIYing at daughters house, daughter and I with Molly went shopping at Dunelm and B&M, both huge stores with great air-conditioning. Today is our Gala at our castle, its always a fantastic family day, daughter will be here with her 3, we are going to miss it as its far too hot for any of us, there is almost no shade there or on the walk to and from.

Ouch

 Another brilliant plot, what could go wrong, well everything, who do you trust, even those who have your best interest, lovely twist, this author produces fantastic different plots. Book 37 read this year

Starts with a wife murdering her husband, what should she do next, she runs, what will become of her, her family left behind and those who help her, another good twist, this author understands people. Book 38 read this year.

A very different plot, for a change it a man's story, if you love someone do you cross the line, should you rely on family, your dad is your rock. Lots of twist and turns, I really enjoyed this book, a new author for me. Book 39 read this year.

The plant in Betty was outgrowing her root space, I saw this new head pot in Pound saver for just £4, it has a huge pot and this plant should do really well, but what to do with Betty, I do love her so much, I have taken the cheats route, these string of pearls are fake, I got 2 plants for £8, hubby saved the nice pots for me, and Betty got new hair, I'm not sure if I love it. I took a ball of brown yarn and put in in the pot, I used Modge Podge over the yarn and pressed the frons in, it will take a while to dry.  

My pregnant onion flower is starting to open, it's on a very long stalk, pretty tiny white flowers. Sadly this morning the stalk broke, I have cut it and placed the flower in water.

I'm suffering from tooth ache, I have a huge back tooth which needs removing, my dentist has referred me to our dental hospital, my initial appointment is in a couple of weeks, I have antibiotics to take, which is helping. 

I'm spending less time inside, so not reading as much, we are watching Clarkson's farm, almost finished series two, and still enjoying it. It's been a quiet week, I passed on some of my zinnia seedlings, I had far too many. I also need to sort the flower plants I have extra, I am waiting until school is back, so I can chat to the new gardeners to see if they want flowers as well. If not I will offer them to the people who have created a garden in front of our library, I did ask our neighbour, but she did not collect any. 

We had George on Thursday, he was helpful as hubby finished our shower room, we got a few new bits which we like, just looking for a window blind. The colours are the same, we had plenty of paint,  so a cheaper project. George and I spent most of the day outside,  it was sunny and warm, I had to water my pots again, Will spent the day with Grandma and Molly was at preschool school, so daughter had time to herself. Daughter got the news Molly is going to the same school as George in September, it's always a relief to get the confirmation, she is already purchasing uniform, as things sell out quickly. The school has their own tops with logos, but the rest can be purchased anywhere.

We are at the start of Easter weekend, today we are all going to paint pottery, should be fun. The only plans is for an Easter egg hunt here on Sunday, Grandpa and Grandma are coming as well, if it's nice hubby will BBQ, if not a buffet lunch will  be served, the children prefer either rather than a roast dinner with vegetables. Sadly my brother is not with us this year, first time in years not to have him.

Must be love

It's Valentines day, we are using our cards for the 5th year, hubby is happy these days to reuse cards to each other, he hated doing it at the start. We don't get gifts or over priced flowers and we don't go out. He has planned a nice meal for tonight thanks to a great meal deal at Tesco.

 Lilly is becoming a much bigger and braver cat, she has her moments where she hares around the house, she also has a love for my houseplants, she attacked my air plant one night, I managed to find it, it will recover from all the lower leaves being chewed off, for now I have moved it to a safe location, this is recovery row along with my spider plant and babies. 

My Christmas cactus is flowering again, I only ever water this plant, it loves the spot in the bathroom, nice to see pretty blooms on dull days.

We not seen daughter, her car has been playing up, it's settled now, problems started after she filled up, we think maybe something to do with that, she did not use her local garage. Wednesday evening I helped with bath and bed time for the two youngest, mummy went to Will's parent/teacher meeting, mostly good news, he is inclined to interact with those who disturb the class, he does not start anything, but stops and laughs at them, also he is slow on his maths, he can do it, just needs more encouragement to be confident, his teacher is going to find some pages for him to try at home.

I managed to give our bedroom and shower room and the downstairs bathroom a good clean this week, no where is dirty, but I have been avoiding corners for a while, I plan to do the kitchen next. 

Our car had it's MOT on Thursday, sailed through, we just needed two new tyres, we spent most of the day in town, we had lunch out and had homemade tomato soup later at home. 

Today we are meeting daughter and Will (inset day) to have coffee and cake at Dunelm, then into B&M for cat food. B&Q is close by, I would like to pop in there as well. It's just above freezing here this morning, very grey and very windy again. 

This weekend I hope to be in the garden, first real time this year, I want to cut dead bits back as the bulbs are coming through, I have bits to do in the greenhouse, and a general tidy up, I am still not going to start any seeds yet, I will put an order in for our local garden centre, they will deliver bags of compost, stone and other bits on a Friday night, I need fine seedling compost.

12 weeks

Lilly is 12 weeks old, so first visit to the vets for her in a few days, I've lost the bottom shelf here on my craft trolley, she loves to tuck herself down there, so I moved my bits, popped in some dense foam, covered with a towel and the felt scraps she loves. She rest here when we are sat at our computers, which is most mornings.

We have random boxes around the house, this one is in our office, which again she loves.

Not a great photo, once it was the grandchildren's toys, now it's cats toys, plus a box and a deflated balloon. No point in packing them away, she loves our wooden floors as she can slide along them.

This was my lovely healthy spider plant, it had wonderful babies on a long stalk, all in past tense, Lilly has been playing, the babies are now in water in hope they root, and the plant has been moved into the kitchen. 

My back is much better, I have started morning stretches on my journey to fitness, I hope to start my Pilates routine next week, I have notes on the first classes I went to and will follow them for now, I have also found some short video's from the NHS. The hope is to walk each day and make the walks longer as I get fitter. 

We are still doing very little here, our bedroom needs decorating soon, but we will wait until the weather is a bit warmer and we can work with the windows open, we have a half stud wall to build then it's just normal painting and a new carpet. The bedroom is the final room in the house, so other than our wooden floors (needs to be done in hot summer months) which needs sanding and re-varnished, the house is sorted, so a much easier year for us. 

We popped to town on Tuesday, nothing much we needed, more a chance to get out and about, we did stop for a coffee, it was dry and less grey. Today the weather is the same, rain is due and then on Friday storm Eowyn, again we should be on the outer edges of the storm and miss the worse it will bring, no plans for the rest of the week.

Still blooming

Through the cooler months I do have some colour in my flowering section, a few summer blooms which should not be, and my winter chosen ones. Bulbs are starting to show, I think these are yellow crocus. 

Also in the greenhouse.

Inside my hyacinths, whilst not that tall are pretty blooms, they should be 2 bright pink and 2 white blooms, another Amaryllis bud is opening, this one is white, I have planted the red bulb. 

Friday we popped to Lidl for bread, milk and fresh bits, we had planned to go on Monday, but with the weather forecast so dire, we took advantage of the sunny dry morning. My eldest grandson popped in with his girlfriend in the afternoon, they enjoyed the cake hubby made, we chatted for hours, he is 19 and such a caring young man.

Saturday Lilly had visitors, Molly, George and Will played with her, we spent time chatting to mummy, we all enjoyed the cake, Will loves red velvet cake, we walked to the village, and got more food for Lilly, had the afternoon reading. Lilly crashed out, we are so pleased she has settled. The day was cold and dry, I had to again break ice on my wildlife pond and the drinking spots for the birds.

Sunday was a day at home together, we woke up to rain thankfully, it was a dull and much warmer day, daughter went out for a meal with friends and stayed over, ex was home with the children, she woke up late morning, something which is difficult to do when you have 3 young children. It's grey and very wet again here, I hope if you have snow you are all OK.

On a different note, I have not been able to comment on your post other than anonymous on my tablet, asked daughter why, she found I was not using Google as my browser, so my tablet did not recognise me, she set Google as my default browser and I can comment as poppypatchwork, most of you would know this, but I do get a few anonymous comments.

Additions

This cactus is in full bloom and looks stunning in our bathroom, it loves this spot, I look forward each year to see it bloom once more.

I've been adding to my house plants, I have purchased an Amaryllis bulb in a glass before, it grows well, this should bloom white, once it's finished I will use the glass for candles in the garden. I did not have a white blooming cactus, so I've put that right, the cyclamen is very unusual blooms.  

A yellow rose outside.

I have cyclamen outside, I do love these plants, these can be seen from my chair, giving me colour in my view. I do dead head them often to keep the blooms coming.

These are the last two pots, the top pot is brilliant, the lower pot has pansies in, I have had a few blooms, but the plant is now growing rather then blooming, which is OK, colour to come. 

These sunny blue sky days are such a joy, it's much colder, but I don't mind it at all, you can always wrap up warm, cold and wet is a different matter. I did get outside for a while yesterday, I got the bark I wanted to go around the Olive tree, the rest went on the square garden, not really deep enough, but as they say every little helps. 

I took my sister to our favourite garden centre an got a few things from their inside food shop, we went to B&Q for the bark, I got an half price plant, just £3.50, spotted the till over charged me £5 on the bag of bark, which was put right and then to Home Bargains, nice shopping trip. The plant, Saxifrage, dancing pixies thea, with a lovely white flower are late season blooms, which will help with colour at this time of year.

Less outside

 This is the before photo, we got a local guy in the shape our Magnolia tree, this year it has grown loads, we often cut it back ourselves, but decided it needed an expert to take it smaller. We used the same guy as last time, he is very good at explaining what he wants to do.

Now it looks so much better, and all the leaves sorted in one go, hubby shredded everything and I've popped it all into our 2 black dustbins, more leaf mulch next year. It does look bare, next spring it will fill out again, I'm happy it's small again.

I have broad beans sprouting in one bed and a few parsnips growing, as well as onions and leeks in the other bed, and a lone winter cabbage, I will order 4 bags of FYM to spread across, a local family run nursery delivers to our area on a Friday evening.

Inside my cactus in the bathroom is full of colour, these will bloom for weeks, my orchid looks great back in the corner, where it can be seen and not knocked, the poinsettia is fake, I've had it for years, I can't keep the real ones alive in this house.  

The garden looks bright again, the tree was taking away so much light, it's no longer over the veg bed, and hardly any leaves left to fall. I love we still have loads of colour around our plot, the grasses around my wildlife pond are different shades of green, which will help later when the final colours have gone. I have my tulips to plant, they all go into pots, I have worked out where each will go, it's just a case of getting it done. 

I've deep cleaned our kitchen, being open plan the dust from the stairs had got everywhere,  I do like to give everywhere a clean before I put up the decorations, this year I did the kitchen on two separate days, a sign I'm getting older, it's a job I love once it's done. Next to do both bathrooms, again they are not dirty, mainly dusty, but getting  into corners will give me the impression it's cleaner.

We have seen loads of the three little ones this half term, Friday we walked to the village together, and then home with loads of musical instruments to play with, Sunday Molly and Will came over, George went to a birthday party, daughter is not able to leave him, Molly and I did some crafting, mainly stickers and colouring, she was happy. 

Inside

Bettys hair is growing and looking good, much nicer than the string of pearls, which never gave any height. This plant has grown loads since I planted it in April. She always wears these fake Rayban glasses, I was scammed once, thought I had purchased a pair of shoes at a good price, the glasses arrived instead, they are as cheap as they look.

My small spider plant has a long growth, which is flowering, this plant lives on the sunny kitchen window sill. The flowers behind are silk, our old beautiful jug has a crack and can't hold water.

I'm still happy with my small draw shelf on my desk, these succulents are doing well, they love this sunny spot, the plant back right has a long flower stalk.

Friday afternoon hubby was bored, so he baked another red velvet cake,  which we both love as does Will, made dairy free so the two little ones can have some, it does not affect the taste, it really does taste as good as it looks.

Thursday was a nothing day, it rained all day, heavy at times, good for the garden and keeps my rain butts full. It was much cooler, we did go for a short walk around the park, just to get outside. 

Friday we popped to daughters, finished the front garden, with the help of George and Molly, hubby wanted to start the back garden, but the garden waste bin was full, so we will come back and sort it out soon. We had lunch at the same café as Tuesday,  just hubby and I and walked along the waters edge at Warsash, it was overcast,  perfect for a lovely walk.

Today I have daughter, Will, George and Molly coming here, hubby is away for the day, it's already sunny and blue skies, all I need to do is pop there favourite items outside for them to play with.